Electrical indicator.



S. B. MOSCOVITZ.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED 119.211, 1907.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l,

S. B. MOSCOVITZ.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 19074 Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

514. mito@ Wa @uw MQW S. B. MOSOOVITZ.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

APPLIOATIOI rILBn me. as, 1001.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

5 BHEETB-SHEET 6.

witwassen huma/V601;

UNTED STATES SAMUEL B. MOSCOVITZ, 0F NE\V YORK, N. Y.. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMEFI NATIONAL AUTOMATIC ROLL ADVERTISNG COMPANY. A CORPORATIOC G,

YORK.

PATENT orrior;

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21,1ffj.

Application tiled August 28, 1907. Serial No. 390,480.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. Moscovrrz, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, and a Iresident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Indicators, of wlnch the following is a specification. l

'The present invention pertains to that class of apparatus which is employed for indicating the names of railway stations, str-reet crossings and for the display of bulletins and advertising matter.

The object of -my invention is to provide an etti-cient. automatic mechanism principally for usein street or railway oars to visually announce the' stations or street crossings to passengers. But the apparatus mair also be utilized for other purposes in public places, as to, for instance, indicate the arrival and de arturo of tra-ins, ctc.

` Vhen used in street or railway cars, apart l from indicating'the names of stations or street crossings, it may show dilferent business places located in the neighborhood of the approaching street or-station.

My invention thus consists in the construction and combination of parts which render the mechanism simpler and cheaper and at the same time more efficient. than those hitherto known.

In order that my invention may he fully.

understood, the saine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals denote corresponding' parts and -in which- 1 Figure 1 is -a front elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 a vertical cross section through line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 and looking to w the left; Fig. 3 a vertical cross section through line 3, 350i Fig. 1 and lookin to the left; Fig. 4 a left side view; Fig. a vertical cross section through line 5, of Fig. 1 and looking to the right; Fig. (i a vertical cross section throuh line 6, 6 of Fig. 1 and looking to the eft; Fig. 7 a right side -view;-Fig. 8 a horizontal cross section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a similar section on line y--y of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 a diagram showing the electric circuits.

l/Vit'h reference to the drawings 1 denotes the main frame in which the rollers for feeding, winding ,and guiding the strip or band that bears the matter to be indicated are ter as the roller 9 revolves.

supported. To both sides o this trame aux- S iliary frames 2, 3 are secured for the support of a suitable motor and of the main mechanism for operating the rollen.

The strip or band *t which may be made of any suitable material is adapted to bear the matter to he indicated on both sides, so Ythat the indications muy be Seen from both sides of the apparatus.

The upper and lower ends ot the hand are permanently secured to winding rollers 5, (l arranged vertically one above the other and rigidly secured on shafts 7, 8 respectively, said shafts extending..lr longitudinally of the frame 1 and being rotatively supported therein. Between these two rollers 5 and the' feed-roller 9 is provided, the axis of which extends in the same vertical plane with the two mentioned winding rollers. This feed-roller may be of any suitable construction. 'l`hns, for instance, it may he provided at its ends with a plurality of radial pins 10 that are adapted to engage metallic eyelets 11 provided at the lateral edges ot the strip or band 4 to feed the lat- Above and below the feed-roller t), guide-rollers 11' and l(12 are respectively provided, which are 'adapted to hold the strip taut against. one

side of the feed-roller E). At the lower part. of the frame, adjacent to and parallel with the Winding;r roller another guide rollerlll is provided which is adapted -to guidein vertical direction and parallel with the front and rear walls and panes 14 of the casing 16, thatportion of the strip which lextends downward from the feed-roller S) to the winding roller (i.

The shafts 7, 8 carry at one end sleeves l t which are rictionally connected therewith to form friction couplings that are `srcaredwith the shaft 17 o thc feed-roller in a manner, thatV by the rotation of the feedroller in one direction, the friction coupling of. the winding roller on which thc strip is being wound up will be directly driven therefrom, while the other being uncoupled will he allowed to turn under the strain ot the feeding strip, and vice versa..` For this purpose the shaft 17 of the feed-roller carries at its ends gears 15), 2O that are loosely mounted thereon and are provided with spring actuated pawls Q1 adapted to co operate with ratchet wheels 22 rigidly secured on the shaft 17. The teeth of the two oppositely located ratchet wheels Q2 run in reverse directions so that, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 17, one of 5 the gears at the ends of the shaft will be coupled and caused to revolve therewith, while the other will remain at rest. The bevel gear 19 meshes with a smaller gear Q3, that by a spindle 24 and gear 25 is adapted to transmit movement to the gear 26 of the sleeve 8', which by friction will transmit movement to the shaft 8 and roller .6; At the other end of the shaft the gear 20 transmits movement by a gear 27 y to the gear 28 of the sleeve 7, which by friction will drive Shaft 7 and roller 5. 'In order that the strip be maintained taut notwithstanding the varyingvdiaineter of the rollers, upon and from which the Strip is wound and unwound, the

revolution o Ithe feed-roller will transmit a certain number Of-revolutions to the coupled sleevel of the winding roller, whichvnumber is 'decreased by the slipping of the lappiopriate'friction sleeve 7. or 8 as the amount of strip-4 wound'up upon theroll increases. It

is for this purpose that the friction sleeves 7 and 8 are provided.

At one endl of the shafts 7, 8 washers, 6

may be arrangedso as to bear with slight friction against the walls. of the frame 1, whereby'the rotation ,of `said shafts may be somewhat retarded. This frictional retardation is suflicient to retard the too,rap id unwinding;r ofthe strip 4 inresponse to the pull l of the-feedroll 9.- v

The shaft 17 ofthe feed-rolleriis extended into the auxiliary frame 3 and coupled by suitable means wi th themain shaft 29 of th'e lo automatic mechanism that serves tooperate the feed and winding rollers. This mecha? nism consistsof'two cani vdisks 30, 31 of gequal size andshape, rigidlyA mounted on' i 'y shaft 29l Sonthat their cam portions are re" 4-5 versedltoone another i f'lhe shaft 29 ofthe cam disks is connected 'by a,se'tfof gears 32,533,34, 35,'36 and 37,.

suitablyfinaintained ,in a frame 3,'with a sliaftfbdrne iii the frame parallel to'shaft 250 29. This shafty lflis connected by al suitable coupling 39 with the shaft 4() which in turn lmay ibe connected aV suitable yfriction cou-- .i .pling 4Q. with the reversible electricniotor,

.. yllisiipported in' framciQ. i

l'ierarteil" switcli44 (hee caring is so chosen that one..

Y provided Wi th i (Fiet- 10) included .in the circuit.

At the uppcr'part of fi'aiiie 3 an electr-ol 1. magnet/42de farranged'fwhich' 'may vbe fed 'si fi-enr air electric battery' y43 o'r any other' electricsource, and in' the ciru'it'bf'which?.

'through onlyv one ,of .said controllers,

spcnded from .other remaining inopcrative.

4electroinagnct Iis formed as a swinging plate 45, or the like, which is pivoted in the frame 3 at some distance from ther` electromagnet,V and which at the 'end below lthe latter'A is forined with a downwardly extending frame 46 that at the lower end carries setscrews 47, 47. p

Mounted on a crossspindle 48, borne in the frame, and capable of swinging up and v down independently of each other, are two pawls 49, 50 which extend toward the cam disks 30, 31 and are each adapted to norvmally rest on the corresponding disk at the allowing them sufficient-play for swinging up and down. l f .Y

lVlhen Ithe armature 45 is attracted by the energized electromagnet, the'lfraine 4G will simultaneously "lift both pawls, bringing them, when the setscrews 47 are properly adjusted to the highest point of. the shoulder 51,*thus releasingthe' cam disks, whicl'i,.wlicn the mo'tor isin operation, will allow of the shaft' 29" being driven in lany direction and feeding thestrip or band 4 .forward or backward as thev case may be. l

Connected with the pawls 49, 50 is a mechanism for controlling thef electric vcircuit of the reversible'motor. This mechanism consists of two downwardly projectingswinging` bars 52, 53 Ythat are rigidlyconnected with the pawls 49, 5() 'in such a manner, that, by ytheup and downmovement. of the'lattcr,

the former will'be swung forward. anthhackward. The .lowenends of these `bars are insulated carbon Contact .pieces 54,55. Opposite to the 'latter carbon contact 'pieces 56, 57 are secured on longitudinally adjustable spi-ing 'actuated Xrods '58, 59.v The contact pieces 54, 55, 5,6 and 57 are electrically connected, with the electric source on one hand, yand von the.y other with the reversibleJelectro-niotor, there being a. hand switch G0 ofany suitable,construction 1 hen, by the4 attraction of the-frai'uiatufi'e ,4.5, the pawls 49,150.1ire lifted, both, controllers will lic swu'ngfiorward .tf1-bring their, 4carbon piecesy 54, '55lin contact.jwitlrthe'lpieces 56, 57; 'hut owing .toapi'cvioiis switehiiigixof the electric circuit.vv of l the re vcrs'ble motori', as, for' instance.' by ,the Ilia-nd sivitcli" (Fig. 10),.; thoeuri'entwill Iallpwed,' t How the j Fig. 1t).diagraminavtically4 the electric circuitswith relationitohe actuatlion ;"and a second set 'comprising contacts ing switch 44 and reversing switch 60, niotor 41, contacts and 53, actuating magnet- 42 and the source 43. The circuit for the actuating,l magnet 42 may be traced as follows: source 43, wire 101. actuating circuit vcloser 44, wire 102, magnet 42, wire 103, hack to source 43. The encrgization of this circuit serves to energize magnet 42 and cause contacts and 53 to close respectively against contacts 56 and 57.

l The reversing switch 60 comprises a suitable insulating base 104 carrying terminals 105 and 106 which are connected respectively by leads 107 and 108 with the respective terminals of the source 43. Three contact fingers 109, 110 and 111 are fixed to a 'central rotatable carrier 112 so as to rotate therewit or as a unitary mechanical structure. Two sets of stationary contacts are fixed t'o the base 104, namely-*one set comprising contacts 113, 114 and 115 to be employed for the rotation of motor 41 in a clockwise direc- 11'0, 117and 118 to be employed for ettecting counterclockwisc rotation o the motor 41. The insulated wire 119 cross connects stationary contacts 113 and 117. The contact arms' 110 and 111 are electrically connected by the wire 120. As shown in Fig. 10, the movable contact lin'v'ers 109, 110 and 111 are in a position out o? contact with ail of the stationary contacts. When the switch is in this position, the circuits presently to be described .for eiiecting the rotation of the motor 41 in either of its two directions 'are open and consequently no operation of the motor ycan be effected. For a clockwise rotation of the *motor the switch 60 is operated so that `Contact arm 109 is closed on contact 113; the contact arm 110 is closed on contact 114; and contact arm 111 isclosed oncontact 11F. When the switch is in this position, the circuits for motor 41 may be traced as follows: field circuit, source 43. lead* 108, wire '121,wi1'e 122, field of motor 41,wire 123,lead 124,wire 120, contact arm 111, contact 115,wire 125, contact 56, contactY 52, wire 126, lead 107 back to source 43. The armature circuit for motor 41 may be trace'd as follows for clockwise rotation: source 43, wire 108, wire 121, lead 127, Contact arm 109, contact 113, wire 128, armature of motor 41, wire 129, contact 114, contact arm 110, wire 120, con-- tact arm 111, contact 115, wire 125, contact contact 52, wire 126, wire 107, back to source For counterclockwise rotation of motor 4l, contact arms 109, 110 and 1.11 contact respectively with stationary contacts 116, 117 and 118. For this )osition ot' lthe v witch, the circuit for the 'old or' motor 41 may be traced as follows: source 43, lead Mr?, wire 121 wire 122, tield of motor 41, 123, lea' 124, wire 120, contact 'arm 111, contact '118` wire 130. Contact 57, oontact 53, wire 131, wire 126, wire 107, back to source 43. The armature circuit for motor 41 may be traced as Follows: source 43, lead 108, Wire 121, lead 127. contact ara: 10U, contact 116, wire 129, armature ot 4motor 41, wire 128, wire 11.9, contact 117, contact arm 110, wire 120, contact arm 111, contact 118, wire 130, contact 57, contact 53, wire 131, wire 1.26, lead 107 back to source 43. From the tracingcf these circuits it will be seen that the direction of current tioW through the field of motor 41 is the same for both positions of ythe switch 60; whereas the direction of current flow for the armature 41 is reversed by a change in the position of the switch 60; also that the contacts 52y and 56 form a circuit breaker for the circuits for clockwise rotation for motor 41 and the contacts 53 and 57 form a circuit breaker for the circuits for the counterclockwise rotation of motor 41. Thus by the manipulation of the reversing switch 60 the direction of movement of the motor 41 may be altered, whereby upon the actuation o the magnet 42 the motor will be caused to operate in one direction or the other to transmit its movement through the above named friction coupling and vset of gears to shaft 29 of the cams 30, 31. By this movement one of the pawls 49, 50 will be caused to slide on the circular portion of its cam and thus hold the corresponding controller closed until, at the end of lone revolution of the disk, it meets the eccentric or cam portion of the lutter, which causes the pawl to swing down and thereby open the said controller. In consequence thereof, the circuit of the electro-motor is broken and the strip 4 stops, displaying the name of the approaching 'street 'or station, or any other matter through the frames at both sides of the casinfr.

zilhe adjustable mounting of the contact pieces 56 and 57 in the frame 3 provides a convenient means for determining the pre oise point or moment for cutting oi the supply ot' current to the motor 41. hen the bars 52 and 53 are swung forward by the armature 45, the contact pieces 54 and 55 cause the contacts 56 and 57 to retreat against the compression of their respective springs. For the sake of illustration we will suppose the switch G0 to be so set as to Send current through the contacts 55 and 57 so that current thus passing will operate the motor to rotate the cams 30 and 31 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 7; When the bar 53 was swung and the pawl 50 raised, the concentric portion of the cam 31 passed immediately beneath the headiot 'the pawl and positively prevented a return swing of the bar 53 during somethingr more than a half revolution of the cam. When the cam has reached. this position its shape permits of a gra-dual lowering of the pawl Ofand a corresponding gradual return swing of the bar 53 toward its normal position, during the remainder of rotation of the cam. As the contact 55 thus gradually recedes it is followed closely by the Contact 57 under diminishing pressure of its spring, and current continues` to pass through said contacts to the motor until the preadjusted point is reached at which the contact 5T is stopped. Further movement of contact 55 immediately breaks the flow ot current and the motor continues to move by momentum only. 'lhe point at which the contact 57 is stopped relative to the cam 31 is preferably adjusted so that the momentum of the motor will rotate said cam through a remaining portion of its revolution with diminishing speed which, while beingy sufficient to complete the revolution, will yet not cause a damaging shock when the `shoulder of the Vcam engages the head ot' the pawl. Thus it will be seen that the movement, or rotation, ofthe cams 30 and 3l serves as the immediate means for determining'the movement of the contacts .5455 during the operation of breaking thc electric circuit, and by this vneans the current through the motor may be discontinued at a point determined by the, movement or position of thel exhibiting device. The other 'pawl which Was also lit'ted by the attracted armature is, as soon as the electromagnet is deiincrgim-al. allowed to swing down into the corresponding disk and to slide at first on the eccentric or cam portion and then, gradually rising, upon the periphery of the circular portion of the disk. The closure ot the corresponding controller ctl'ected thereby will, as already indicated, not interfere with the worlr ing ot the apparatus since the same has no current.

When employing the apparatus in `connection with cars to indicate the successive stations or street crossings, at,a certain dis tance from cach station or street crossing there may be a projection or the like to automatically operate a switch 44 (Fig. l1) suspended 'ronrthe passing car.

'l`he switch |na \y be constructed in "any suitable manner. ln the drawing l have illustrated the .same in Fig. l0 by the switch 44 operated in' an obvious manner monientarily to close the circuit Yfor actuating magnet 42, which sutlicesI to lift; the pa'wls Clt), :il yand unlock 'the cams. Simultancn n ously therewith the controllers are swung tobi-ing their carbon' pieces into contact for starting the. motor in the abovefdescribed manner. 'l'he cams are so admeasured that. onorevoliition thereof corresponds `with the distance between two successivo indications y'on the strip` lConsequently Icach time thel cam is operated to complete a full revolution. a new indication will be "displayed through the panes of the casing.

contact; and adjustable means for limiting the travel of said coperating contact toward said first contact, whereby the engagement between the contacts may be broken before the complete shifting of said exhibiting device.

2.y In a device of the character described, the combination with an indicating strip,

of winding rollers, a feed roller, means for imparting movement to said feed roller in opposite directions7 loose gears at the ends ot' said feed roller, ratchet wheels havin reversed teeth and being connected wit said feed roller, pawls secured to the loose. gears and cooperative with 'said ratchet wheels to automatically couple either of said gars with the tred roller according to the direction of rotation of the latter, a friction coupling for each winding roller, said friction coupling` permitting the latter to automatically adjust, itself in speed according to the variaticn of its diameter, and gears transmitting movement from the feed roller to the said friction coupiings, said gears being so apportioned that the speed of the winding rollers is greater than that ot the feed roller, substantiallgY as set forth. 3. ln a device of the character described, the combination with. feed and winding rollers, and an indicating strip. ,of a reversible eleii'tro-inolor for driving said Jfeed roller in opposite directions, an automatically opcraled electro*magnet, a. pair of cam disks arranged with their cam portions in reversed direction to one another, a pair ot swinging pawls` t'or said cam disks actuated simultanecusly by said electro-magnet and independently from one another by the said cam disks, said pawls and cams being -adapted to control the feeding of the indicating strip in the respective directions of rotation of the electro-motor, substantially as set forth.`

4. ln a device of the character described, the combination with feed andk winding rollers and an indicating strip, of a reversible electroanotor for driving said feed roller in opposite directions` an automatically operatcd electro-magnet, a pair, of camI disks arrangml with their camportions in reversed direction to one anothelga pair of swinging pawls tor said cams, actuated 

